[Steve]

Here's how its has been cracked and the details of why this really does currently work...

Microsoft allows large hardware manufacturers (e.g. ASUS, HP, Dell) to ship their products containing a Windows Vista installation that does NOT require any kind of product activation as this might be considered an unnecessary inconvenience for the end-user.

Instead these so-called 'Royalty OEMs' are granted the right to embed certain license information into their hardware products, which can be validated by Windows Vista to make obtaining further activation information (online or by phone) obsolete.

This mechanism is commonly referred to as 'SLP 2.0' ('system-locked pre-installation 2.0') and consists of the following three key elements:

1. The OEM's hardware-embedded BIOS ACPI_SLIC information signed by Microsoft.

2. A certificate issued by Microsoft that corresponds to the specific ACPI_SLIC information.

The certificate is an XML file found on the OEM's installation/recovery media, ususally called something like 'oemname.xrm-ms'.

3. A special type of product key that corresponds to the installed edition of Windows Vista.

This key can usually be obtained from some installation script found on the OEM's installation/recovery media or directly from a pre-installed OEM system.

If all three elements match Windows Vista's licensing mechansim considers the given installation a valid system-locked pre-activated copy (that does not require any additional product activation procedures).

So the basic concept of the tool at hand is to present any given BIOS ACPI_SLIC information to Windows Vista's licensing mechanism by means of a device driver. In combination with a matching product key and OEM certificate this allows for rendering any system practically indistinguishable from a legit pre-activated system shipped by the respective OEM.

Compare Prices for Windows Vista in USA & in UK




Pretty interesting stuff I say...

[Charlotte]

I knew all that

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Charlotte

I knew all that

I thought you might!!

[P-E]

[water]

Originally Posted by Steve

Here's how its has been cracked and the details of why this really does currently work...

Microsoft allows large hardware manufacturers (e.g. ASUS, HP, Dell) to ship their products containing a Windows Vista installation that does NOT require any kind of product activation as this might be considered an unnecessary inconvenience for the end-user.

Instead these so-called 'Royalty OEMs' are granted the right to embed certain license information into their hardware products, which can be validated by Windows Vista to make obtaining further activation information (online or by phone) obsolete.

This mechanism is commonly referred to as 'SLP 2.0' ('system-locked pre-installation 2.0') and consists of the following three key elements:

1. The OEM's hardware-embedded BIOS ACPI_SLIC information signed by Microsoft.

2. A certificate issued by Microsoft that corresponds to the specific ACPI_SLIC information.

The certificate is an XML file found on the OEM's installation/recovery media, ususally called something like 'oemname.xrm-ms'.

3. A special type of product key that corresponds to the installed edition of Windows Vista.

This key can usually be obtained from some installation script found on the OEM's installation/recovery media or directly from a pre-installed OEM system.

If all three elements match Windows Vista's licensing mechansim considers the given installation a valid system-locked pre-activated copy (that does not require any additional product activation procedures).

So the basic concept of the tool at hand is to present any given BIOS ACPI_SLIC information to Windows Vista's licensing mechanism by means of a device driver. In combination with a matching product key and OEM certificate this allows for rendering any system practically indistinguishable from a legit pre-activated system shipped by the respective OEM.



Pretty interesting stuff I say...

]


Yes ,but what the h*** does it mean

[stepheno]

WOW.....I did understand all that and it's mighty interesting

[VikingPhotography]

English language version:

The sofware crackers/hackers have figured out a way to trick Microsoft's activation computers into thinking that your PC - running Vista - is one made by Dell / Asus etc. that doesn't need additional activation

They have done this by coding a piece of software that pretends it is the BIOS chip of one of the branded machines - so when MS' activation routine takes a peek at your machine, it thinks it's looking at a Dell etc. and verifies your PC as having a genuine Vista install - end of story.

Of course this is an extremely simplified version of the tech details but should give you the overall gist of it

[Charlotte]

OIC! Thanks for translating that, Viking

[Rob Barron]

Alternative translation:

Steve's forehead is currently expanding at a phenomenal rate and if his brain continues to grow at the current rate his head is likely to explode sometime in November 2007. For all those who might be in the vicinity at that time, the following warning is hereby issued....

It's gonna be messy!

Oh well Steve mate, you can always say you tried. Not your fault there are too many of us simpletons on here that are still stuck on simple questions like 'Why do I have to press Start when I want to Stop my computer?'

I wish I had a brain like yours, mine was programmed by the same idiot that started windows so every time I try and do something i get messages flashing in my head saying 'Are you SURE you want to do that?'

Looks like I am stuck with buying the real vista.... but not yet. I'll wait till they are on Service pack 17 or something

Cheers for trying.
Rob

[orangepeel]

Originally Posted by Rob Barron

Looks like I am stuck with buying the real vista.

er. i kinda doubt steve is advocating people go out and steal vista.

i think the point is they, MS, supposedly spent billions (more than it took to get a man on the moon) but left a great big dumbass hole in it.

[Markulous]

i think the point is they, MS, supposedly spent billions (more than it took to get a man on the moon) but left a great big dumbass hole in it

Well, it is kind of a problem when you have something which has to be accessible and changeable BUT you don't want it accessed/changed by the "wrong" people. Bit like PIN numbers on bank cards............... and biometric data on passports............ and on ID cards. All supposedly "uncrackable".

[orangepeel]

indeed. I have a fingerprint reader on my ipaq. I can "crack" it with a wine gum!

all this stuff only gives an illusion of safety/security. lawmakers must know this so they surely have another agenda in mandating the implementation of these technologies.

[Markulous]

Originally Posted by orangepeel

indeed. I have a fingerprint reader on my ipaq. I can "crack" it with a wine gum!.

LOL! the best I've heard yet!

Originally Posted by orangepeel

all this stuff only gives an illusion of safety/security. lawmakers must know this so they surely have another agenda in mandating the implementation of these technologies.

Oh, but if you say "It can't be done" often enough then it becomes true, as we all know! Tho' admittedly this process is much speeded up if you are in a position of some authority/power!

LOL! The lawmakers only agenda is to give the illusion of control - the other mantra they love: "If you've done no wrong then it can't harm you". You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time.........

[JMitchell]

Lets just take a look at this:
Windows Vista, released Feb '07: Already cracked
Mac OS'*': Been out for god knows how long; 2 know viruses....

Tsche.

[Steve]

Not even closely related subjects are they though? I honestly don't see the connection?

[j sotelo]

Originally Posted by Steve

Here's how its has been cracked and the details of why this really does currently work...

Microsoft allows large hardware manufacturers (e.g. ASUS, HP, Dell) to ship their products containing a Windows Vista installation that does NOT require any kind of product activation as this might be considered an unnecessary inconvenience for the end-user.

Instead these so-called 'Royalty OEMs' are granted the right to embed certain license information into their hardware products, which can be validated by Windows Vista to make obtaining further activation information (online or by phone) obsolete.

This mechanism is commonly referred to as 'SLP 2.0' ('system-locked pre-installation 2.0') and consists of the following three key elements:

1. The OEM's hardware-embedded BIOS ACPI_SLIC information signed by Microsoft.

2. A certificate issued by Microsoft that corresponds to the specific ACPI_SLIC information.

The certificate is an XML file found on the OEM's installation/recovery media, ususally called something like 'oemname.xrm-ms'.

3. A special type of product key that corresponds to the installed edition of Windows Vista.

This key can usually be obtained from some installation script found on the OEM's installation/recovery media or directly from a pre-installed OEM system.

If all three elements match Windows Vista's licensing mechansim considers the given installation a valid system-locked pre-activated copy (that does not require any additional product activation procedures).

So the basic concept of the tool at hand is to present any given BIOS ACPI_SLIC information to Windows Vista's licensing mechanism by means of a device driver. In combination with a matching product key and OEM certificate this allows for rendering any system practically indistinguishable from a legit pre-activated system shipped by the respective OEM.



Pretty interesting stuff I say...

It actually means that you can install Vista OS and you can use the Paradox Vista activator, wich usually its a keygen, it generates serial numbers you can use to actually unlock the OS and make it yours, Paradox does some amazing things, too bad he or she don't use their GREAT HACKING and CRACKING skill for good 'couse he would make lots of money he or she, is really good, one more thing I have to add, BEWARE of using those keygens usually they come with an .exe or a script embeded, when you open them it also sends your computer info back to them and/or it will also dissable some firewalls and open some ports allowing them into your PC. But most of all IT'S ILLEGAL

[Steve]

Originally Posted by j sotelo

It actually means that you can install Vista OS and you can use the Paradox Vista activator, wich usually its a keygen, it generates serial numbers you can use to actually unlock the OS and make it yours, Paradox does some amazing things, too bad he or she don't use their GREAT HACKING and CRACKING skill for good 'couse he would make lots of money he or she, is really good, one more thing I have to add, BEWARE of using those keygens usually they come with an .exe or a script embeded, when you open them it also sends your computer info back to them and/or it will also dissable some firewalls and open some ports allowing them into your PC. But most of all IT'S ILLEGAL

In this case you are wrong about it being a keygen...this is exactly as described above and does not generate a key at all, it uses one of several other keys that are available to the OEM manufacturers and that are widely used legally by those on the mass made systems. For this to work on general (non OEM) systems you are also required to install a couple of files that the OS checks too.

As you did rightly say it is illegal but that's not actually the point of this thread, as Orangepeel correctly stated earlier, this is about MS saying that Vista would be impossible to crack, all previous versions have been time limited or at best meant altering your motherboard bios, where this method is relatively simple to do and almost impossible for MS to reverse.

Time will tell who wins in the long run. The Giant or the little man

[j sotelo]

you are right in Vista OS it doesnt generate a serial,
Microsoft allows large hardware manufacturers (e.g. ASUS, HP, Dell) to ship their products containing a Windows Vista installation that does NOT require any kind of product activation as this might be considered an unnecessary inconvenience for the end-user. Instead these so-called ‘Royalty OEMs’ are granted the right to embed certain license information into their hardware products, which can be validated by Windows Vista to make obtaining further activation information (online or by phone) obsolete. This mechanism is commonly referred to as ‘SLP 2.0′ (’system-locked pre-installation 2.0′) and consists of the following three key elements:

The OEM’s hardware-embedded BIOS ACPI_SLIC information signed by Microsoft
A certificate issued by Microsoft that corresponds to the specific ACPI_SLIC information (The certificate is an XML file found on the OEM’s installation/recovery media, ususally called something like ‘oemname.xrm-ms’)
A special type of product key that corresponds to the installed edition of Windows Vista
This key can usually be obtained from some installation script found on the OEM’s installation/recovery media or directly from a pre-installed OEM system

If all three elements match Windows Vista’s licensing mechansim considers the given installation a valid system-locked pre-activated copy (that does not require any additional product activation procedures)

So the basic concept of the tool at hand is to present any given BIOS ACPI_SLIC information to Windows Vista’s licensing mechanism by means of a device driver. In combination with a matching product key and OEM certificate this allows for rendering any system practically indistinguishable from a legit pre-activated system shipped by the respective OEM

In the other words, by using this tool, you’re bypassing the product activation requirement of Microsoft Windows Vista ...
In XP, 2000 and 98 it does generate a serial..

Ive been facinated with what they do and I've been "trying" to learn how to program in C and a little assembly. well I been trying to make time to learn anyway...

Looks like time is showing that the little man has the edge over the GIANT, lets hope that the david and goliath story doesnt repeat

[orangepeel]

I seem to remember reading one of the security "features" of Vista is MS can remotely disable any hardware, software or device driver they see fit. If that is true, I'll have to go hunting for the article, then this is likely to have a limited lifespan as all MS have to do is disable the device driver that fools Vista into thinking it's on an OEM box.

Very neat. Invasive, but neat

[Steve]

I thought that was something to do with a chip on the motherboards and vista being able to communicate with it. If it is that which you are thinking about then at this time there are only a few manufacturers that have taken up the technology and so its not being utilised at all by them or MS.

Also MS cannot currently change anything to alter the above process easily as besides it affecting the pirates it would affect 1000's of genuine users who bought oem made pc from some major players in the industry. Sure they can alter the codes and keys but from my understanding, it will effectively switch off the genuine users as well and I can't see the major OEM's being happy with the backlash that would cause.

[orangepeel]

Originally Posted by Steve

I thought that was something to do with a chip on the motherboards and vista being able to communicate with it. If it is that which you are thinking about then at this time there are only a few manufacturers that have taken up the technology and so its not being utilised at all by them or MS.

In truth I can't remember. I don't recall there being any specific hardware requirements.

Maybe you read the paper too. It was by a New Zealand IT professor type. He'd gone though Vista with a view to telling people why some of the DRM and vista components where a bad thing. His study was related to medical imaging but was relevant to all of us.
It was taken so seriously, MS made an attempt to spin it. Which he later debunked too

Ok found it: -
A Cost Analysis of Windows Vista Content Protection

However it could be I misunderstood. This is about premium content and the ability to stop that content from reaching what is considered a bad device driver.
Doesn't seem to me to be a big leap of actually disabling the driver completly. And if you can do that for HD movies, why not for other things like drivers designed to allow pirating of software - Remember this wouldn't affect everyone - just those with the "illegal" driver.

It's a cynical leap on my part that they could do this. But at the end of the day, this is MS we are talking about. Cynicism abounds!

[lucaos]

Ok,

[knobby]

I wonder if this would work dual booted ?

[Steve]

Vista or a cracked version of Vista?

Apparently it does work on a dual boot (both legitimate and the cracked version)

[Chris H]

chinraam not a hugely sensible first post !!

Vista has many cracks, tears, splits, knobs, bells and whistles.

However I doubt very much anyone on Pixalo is going to help you with such a request.


Vista Ultimate 32bit is available in the UK legitimately for £105 if you know where to look.

The Pricerunner costs are stupid.

I've gone back to XP even though I have a legit copy of Vista Ultimate

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Chris H

chinraam not a hugely sensible first post !!

Vista has many cracks, tears, splits, knobs, bells and whistles.

However I doubt very much anyone on Pixalo is going to help you with such a request.

Said post now removed

[Charlotte]

How come chinraam (or anyone) managed to post into a thread that was over a year old ... usually threads close automatically if no posts have been made within 6 months of the last one

[silkstone]

He found a crack.

[fionaB]

in the pavement?

[Charlotte]

Originally Posted by silkstone

He found a crack.

S'pose you think that's punny